By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Referees emerged as a recurring topic as experienced tactician Pablo Laso previewed Round 22 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season and Baskonia hosting Panathinaikos Aktor in Fernando Buesa Arena on Friday.
“A Greek friend told me that Difallah will referee. How could he not be there? He is in a lot of their games” he noted the assignment of the French official Mehdi Difallah as the crew chief for the meeting with the Greens, in a jokingly mood.
Besides the entertaining note on the experienced referee, Laso fell shy of commenting on Ergin Ataman, the head coach of the defending EuroLeague champions, blasting the referees following the Round 21 losing effort against FC Barcelona in Palau Blaugrana on Wednesday.
However, he went into the referees of his side’s meeting with fellow Greek powerhouse Olympiacos in Vitoria-Gasteiz on Tuesday.
“Those two points should have counted. It was a mistake,” he shared on a decision to rescind a score by Chima Moneke.
“But there is more,” he added on complaints against the referees of the game versus the Reds but quickly shifted focus to the next challenge in Europe’s premier club continental competition.
“Exchanging buckets with Panathinaikos is difficult,” he said, “We are talking about a team with a lot of talent. We must seek weak points. We have to play well as a team. We have to move the ball. We have to defend as a team. Because it is a team with so many weapons that even if we stop Kendrick Nunn, anyone else can step up.”
After missing four games between the EuroLeague and Spain’s Liga Endesa with a knee injury, Markus Howard will suit up against Panathinaikos, Laso confirmed.
In contrast, Tadas Sedekerskis will remain sidelined due to an injury to the adductor muscles of his left thigh.